For the first time, the researchers performed the interpretation of the upper part of the common depth point (CDP) seismic sections in the northwestern part of the East Siberian Sea (ESS) along the 44 lines of JSC MAGE in the amount of 8200 km. They revealed 129 anomalous objects in near-bottom sediments, potentially associated with gas accumulations and channels of its subvertical migration. The average distance between these objects along the lines was 63.6 km — 5.2—6.2 times less than in the Chukchi, Laptev and Bering seas. The authors substantiate that the ESS is characterized by a significantly smaller number of gas migration channels — active faults reaching the near-bottom sediments, compared to the seas mentioned above. This is consistent with the lower neotectonic activity of the ESS and the absence of significant seismic events. In the study area, the researchers revealed a large number of depressions in the bottom relief, which are associated with the furrows of ice gouging during the transgressions-regressions of the sea and at the present stage. Significant errors in the GEBCO bathymetry database were also revealed.

The article is devoted to the study of gas saturation of the upper part of the sedimentary cover in the western sector of the Beaufort Sea adjacent to Alaska. For the first time, the interpretation of the upper part of the seismic sections of CDP (common depth point) seismic survey was performed for 52 seismic lines of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) with a total length of 4050 km. 184 anomalous objects were found in near-bottom sediments, potentially associated with shallow gas accumulations (gas pockets). The average distance between these objects along the seismic lines was 22 km, which is 80% more than in the Chukchi Sea. This is apparently due to less tectonic activity in the Beaufort Sea. The statistically established similarity of anomalous objects in these seas in terms of depths and lengths is due to similar geological conditions for the formation of sedimentary deposits. In addition, 60 seismic lines with a total length of 4390 km show a wide distribution of potential gas hydrate deposits on the continental slope of the Beaufort Sea, which is consistent with the earlier conclusions of the US and Norwegian scientists (K. Andreassen, P. E. Hart, A. Grantz and others).